User Reviews

Character actor Al Bridge is one of those forgotten names, familiar to those who are fans of the B western, but basically a minor player in big budget films who could have been up there as a top supporting player. I find his gruff, lemon puckered voice to be perfect for the type of roles he plays, snarky and narcissistic, as his amoral characters get involved in all sorts of schemes to cheat anybody they can, that is if they don't kill them first. In this case, Bridge is a gun runner in Mexico being sought after by government agent Tom Tyler with the heavily accented Betty Mack in the middle as the spitfire femme fatale.

Very cheaply made, this is very creaky, but certainly memorable for a plot that never resorts to distracting nonsense, always on point, and every move meant to create one new twist after another. George "Gabby" Hayes is along as the sidekick, but not utilizing his usual stick that would take over his performances a decade later. Not all B Western fans will enjoy this because of antique filming styles, but for those who have the patience to deal with that, they will find many interesting elements that ends up landing a unique film with very interesting character development and an above average script. Bridge on the violin is a nice deadly twist, a unique and nefarious aspect of his character who is fascinating to watch, especially as he reaches the obvious downfall.

God's Country and the Man (1931) is an interesting early sound offering available on a quite watchable DVD from Grapevine. In this one, Tom Tyler has George (Gabby) Hayes - complete with an Irish accent - as his sidekick. Admittedly, the movie doesn't exactly start with a bang. But as soon as its dull introductory scenes are out of the way, Archie Stout's camerawork picks up with a long, fluid take in a Mexican cantina in which we are introduced to the violin-playing villain, Al Bridge, and the most unusually voiced Betty Mack, playing a French floosie who seems to be making an enormous, yet most creditable effort to give the impression there's something not quite right about her - something phony perhaps? This was the only film in which Al Bridge appeared that he also had a hand in writing. He not only collaborated on the original story with director John P. McCarthy, but wrote all the dialogue, thus ensuring that he handed himself a really good part which set the tone for his 288 roles to come! Giving the villain a violin for a prop was a masterstroke. Also a touch of genius was the decision to make every frame of the movie take place at night. So what we have here is a western noir, made way back in 1931. Of course, the lighting is not the only noir element. In fact, the script introduces a number of uniquely bizarre and adult plot twists that, while seemingly realistic, are definitely not part of Hollywood's standard western lore at all.

I enjoyed this adventure very much, as it has the well-developed and -explored plot with unusual components and poignancy that go lacking in so many of the B-western films made in the late 1930's and thereafter. The film portrays a grim story and there are few laughs to be had, but, by golly, one can get engrossed in this creaky, fairly-early talkie. The mature in the audience will find the unfolding drama to be decidedly grown-up, if not disturbing, in appointment and plot complications. The story develops smoothly with our hero Tom Tyler really coming to represent just one of the cast doing their thing...the hero doesn't necessarily stand out strongly in this one. The set design, editing, and scene composition for the movie are all well done for the era and the genre, with gunfights and on-horseback chases kept to a minimum. This one is highly enjoyable!